Longford secures demo permits to make way for Lincoln Avenue apartments

A new mixed-use development is coming to a Lincoln Avenue site near Chicago’s Uptown, though its developer Longford Construction first has to clear the site of a existing buildings.

The firm took a stride toward doing that as the city granted demolition permits for Longford to remove four structures at 3914-3930 North Lincoln Avenue, Urbanize Chicago reported. The new five-story, 68-unit development will fill a parcel facing Lincoln and Damen avenues.

The project will bring 68 residential units and 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail to the city’s North Center area, just south of West Irving Park Road. The retail portion will have entrances on both Lincoln and Damen avenues. It’s being designed by SPACE Architects + Planners.

To make the project more sustainable, the developer has approved a design that makes the building 10 percent more energy efficient than required by city code and 25 percent more efficient for stormwater drainage. Longford also plans incorporate measures that would reduce its water use by 25 percent compared to similar buildings designed to city code, and make half of the roof green with plantings.

Seven of the residential units will be marketed as affordable housing for residents who make 30 percent of the area median income. Those units will be two- and three-bedroom floorplans. In addition, the project will also have a Divvy bike station on Damen where renters without cars will get a free one-year membership.

General contractor Precision Excavating can now begin the demolition process to make way for new construction. When the project was first planned, construction was expected to begin in July 2022, but with the delay, the expected December 2023 completion date could be pushed back.

Longford’s other projects underway include a 32-unit project in the Uptown neighborhood at 4453 North Hazel Street that’s slated for completion next year, as well as a 14-unit condo project at 4537 North Clark Street set for an April completion, its website shows.

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— Victoria Pruitt